Floating cover system used for evaporation and algae control at Australian winery pond

Geosynthetics | October 2006

Problem: An Australian vineyard was experiencing significant evaporation loss, as well as algae growth, from an on-site irrigation pond.

To address the situation, a floating cover system for the pond was designed and installed at the vineyard in the Barossa wine region northeast of Adelaide in the state of South Australia.

Floating covers can be used to prevent evaporation and to limit the growth of algae. Geomembrane covers can prevent evaporation by reducing the amount of water surface that is exposed to the air. The floating cover also controls algae by reducing the amount of sunlight at the water surface. In the hot, dry climate of South Australia, a floating cover is an excellent solution for evaporation and algae control.

Evaporation and algae control are ongoing concerns for reservoirs, as well as businesses such as viticulture, agriculture, aquaculture, and the entire water-management industry. Evaporation rates are directly affected by the amount of water surface exposed, humidity, wind, and ambient temperature. The issue of evaporative water loss from storage ponds has become a serious problem for the agricultural community as more pressure is put on finite water resources. Irrigation ponds are also subject to algae growth, which can result in clogged irrigation systems and the potential loss of fish populations, where applicable.

To solve the evaporation problem at this winery, Australian geomembrane fabricator/installer, Fabtech, designed an 18,000m² (200,000ft.²), unsupported, floating cover system. The system is a defined-sump, floating-cover design that incorporates customized flotation and ballast weights to accommodate seasonal changes in water levels. The system also incorporates a stormwater recycling pump that takes water collected from the surface of the cover and pumps it into the irrigation pond.

Proven geomembrane conversion techniques are improving water-storage capabilities, and are protecting reservoirs and ponds from evaporation, contamination, and algae growth. Geosynthetics industry advances using new polymer and extrusion-processing technologies, and entrepreneurial design skills are helping address new needs for a wider variety of water-management clients.

Comments

Comments are the opinion of individual posters and do not reflect the views of Geosynthetics or Industrial Fabrics Association International.

• 

  Ron Bygness

  Nov 17, 2011
  8:08 am CST

  Floating Covers Reply

   Reply from Ron Bygness, editor of Geosynthetics:

  Dear Steven,

  Please cut-and-paste this link to "Reservoir Covers" in the 2011 Specifier's Guide from Geosynthetics magazine. Here are nine excellent manufacturing/installation sources for you:

  http://geosyntheticsmagazine.com/buyersguide?s=%22Covers%2C%20Reservoir%22&l=2

  The 2012 edition of the Specifier's Guide is available by mid-December. Check out reservoir covers in the Applications Directory.

  Good luck,

  Ron Bygness

  Editor, Geosynthetics

• 

  Steven De Schrijver

  Nov 16, 2011
  8:56 am CST

  floating covers

  Dear,

  Please could you provide me some more information about the floating covers.

  For our drinkwater production plant in Belgium, we are looking for such a solution to prevent algae formation.

  The cover should eleminate daylight and be able to let pass rainwater.